Robby Gordon is on probation until Dec. 31. Credit: Autostock

Gordon fined, loses points for debris caution

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.-- NASCAR announced Wednesday that Robby Gordon has been fined and issued two point-standing penalties for rule infractions during this past Sunday's Nextel Cup Series event at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Gordon, the driver and owner of the No. 7 Chevrolet, has been fined $15,000; he also has been penalized with the loss of 50 driver championship points and 50 car owner championship points. Gordon also has been placed on probation by NASCAR until Dec. 31.

	At Atlanta, what came out of Robby Gordon's window was the center of controversy. Credit: Autostock
	DEBRIS CAUTION Robby Gordon denied throwing roll-bar padding out his window to force a caution at Atlanta. But that didn't calm Jeff Burton.  •   Complete story, click here Debris on track?Robby Gordon defending himself from debris throwing FrustratedJeff Burton is unhappy after his 13th place finish Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

Gordon violated Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 12-4-N (intentionally causing a caution condition during the race) of the NASCAR Rule Book.

In addition, Gordon's crew chief Greg Erwin has been fined $10,000 due to violations of Sections 12-A and 12-4-N -- and 9-4-A (crew chief assumes responsibility for the actions of his/her driver, car owner and team members). Erwin also has been placed on probation until Dec. 31.

"NASCAR today completed its investigation of the incident that caused a late-race caution in Sunday's Bass Pro Shops 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway and fined Robby Gordon and his crew chief for actions detrimental to stock-car racing," said Kerry Tharp, NASCAR's director of public relations. "It is a very serious matter when a team attempts to manipulate the outcome of a race."

On Lap 290 of Sunday's race, a small piece of debris emerged from around Gordon's No. 7 Chevrolet. Because he was the first car one lap down, the resulting caution put Gordon back on the lead lap, and he rallied to finish 10th.

Jeff Burton was highly upset about the incident. He had just completed a pit stop seven laps prior to the caution and was seeking a stretch of green-flag racing to stay on pit cycle with everyone else. The caution, however, trapped him out of sequence and he voiced his displeasure after the race.

"Whoever threw the roll-bar padding out, they ought to fine them 185 points and fine them 100 grand, because it is a huge impact on the race and it is ridiculous and it happens too often," Burton said after the race. "They need to figure out who did it and penalize them."

Video evidence showed what was believed to be roll-bar padding coming from Gordon's car, but he denied that he threw anything out the window to create the caution.

"I definitely didn't throw anything out the window, so I don't know," Gordon told NBC after the race. "It looked like it came out the back of the car actually."

Burton declined to discuss the matter further after Wednesday's penalties, saying he did not want to talk about the incident anymore.

Robby Gordon Motorsports did not comment on the penalties.